Out & About for Valentineâ€™s Day

Alright, ladies and gentlemen. Valentineâ€™s Day is just around the corner. Iâ€™m sure you have been busy planning that romantic surprise date for that special someone in your life.

But, for those of you who somehow overlooked Feb. 14 on your upcoming agenda, I chose to help you out this year and list a few events you can attend with your loved one on, or before, Valentineâ€™s Day.

Whether youâ€™d like a quiet sit-down dinner, an unusual, one-of-a-kind experience, or some comedy to laugh off Singles Awareness Day, Louisville has something in store for you to celebrate V-Day and your love â€“ or hate â€“ for the amorous holiday.

Friday, Feb. 10

Chocolate Lovers

Westport Village will hold its annual â€œChocolate Lovers Tasting Eventâ€ from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 10. Various shops will serve up Valentine treats, including chocolate candies, ice cream, coffee drinks and adult beverages with a â€œchocolate flair.â€ Shops will also stay open late and offer specials for the last-minute Vday shopper.

â€œMy wife Laura and I have attended the Chocolate Lovers event at Westport Village in the past,â€ said Stephen Ott of O Graphic Design, Inc. â€œWe were treated to a grilling demo at Mike Bestâ€™s meats, we sampled Chocolate Stout and Chocovine imported red wine with chocolate at Westport Whiskey and Wine and watched a Chocolate dessert demonstration at Wild Eggs … We would highly recommend the Chocolate Lovers event at Westport Village to any couple looking for something to do for Valentineâ€™s Dayâ€

Saturday, Feb. 11

â€˜Volare After Hoursâ€™

Volare Ristorante, 2300 Frankfort Ave., will host â€œVolare After Hours,â€ a monthly series, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. beginning Feb. 11. Robbie Bartlett will perform at the venue, while Volare will offer a limited edition of its menu from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Hop on board the Spirit of Jefferson for a dinner cruise on the Ohio River featuring a delicious buffet, music, dancing and a gorgeous setting. Advanced Reservations are required. The cruise will set sail at 7 p.m. at the Fourth Street Wharf port in downtown Louisville. Tickets are $48.

Call 502.574.2992 or toll free at 866.832.0011 for information and reservations.

Valentine Dance with Caribou

The 10th annual Valentine Dance will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Feb. 11, at Holy Family, 3926 Poplar Level Road. Music will be provided by Caribou. Tickets are $50 in advance; $60 day of the dance.

For information and reservations, call 502. 458.5723.

Romantic Retreat in the Forest

For the outdoorsy couple, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest will host a Valentineâ€™s Day dinner in the Visitors Center from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12. The dinner for two will include appetizers, a cash bar, music and dancing, as well as the opportunity to take a stroll through the scenic landscape of the forest.
â€œWe always sell out,â€ said Susan Ritter, marketing and communications officer of BernheimÂ Forest. â€œItâ€™s just kind of a different way to celebrate Valentineâ€™s Day. Itâ€™s not just for couples, sweethearts and married folks. We have lots of groups of friends who come out and enjoy it as well.â€

This year, Bernheim Forest will also auction off an overnight stay at Bernheim Lodge. Cost of the event is $120 per couple for members; $150 per couple for non-members. Reservations are required by Feb. 6.

For reservations and information, call 502.955.8512.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

My Funny Valentine
If youâ€™re hoping to laugh off the holiday or share some laughs with the one you love, check out Mack Dryden as he performs at the University Club of Louisville, 200 East Brandeis Ave., Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. before the show. Tim McClendon will open the evening with his stand-up routine.

Just when you thought that prom dress would go to waste, Lynnâ€™s Paradise Cafe began an unconventional Valentineâ€™s Day tradition that will take you back in the day with an old-school promenade.

â€œItâ€™s going to be decorated in a wonderland theme and everyone is to dress in their best attire,â€ said Brian Anderson at Lynnâ€™s Paradise Cafe. â€œGirls in dresses, guys in dress pants or bow ties … Weâ€™ve even said if you want to play it down you can do the T-shirts with the painted on tux.â€
â€œProm Day & Nightâ€ will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. on Feb. 14. Lynnâ€™s is located at 984 Barret Ave.

Not only do you get to shower your love with affection at the 18th Annual Valentineâ€™s Day dinner show, but you can show your support for the Louisville Chorus by participating in the silent auction fundraiser at the event.

The night will begin with a cash bar and silent auction at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. and a show of beloved love songs at 8 p.m. including â€œUnchained Melody,â€ â€œHappy Together,â€ â€œYour Song,â€ and many more.

Head down to the Seelbach Hilton, 500 S. Fourth St. for this classy tradition. â€œItâ€™s a one-of-a-kind event,â€ said a representative for The Louisville Chorus. â€œYou get not only the music, you get a dinner, a silent auction for fun and you can get up and dance to all the music too. No other choral agency as far as I know is wrapping this all in one package at a prestigious venue like the Seelbach.â€

Reservations are $100 per person. With each reservation, you will also receive complimentary tickets to Cherubim & Seraphim, Tony-Award Winners and Fanfare for the 4th.

About the Author

[gravatar email="aanderson@voice-tribune.com" size="60" alt="Ashley Anderson" class="user-picture"]
Ashley spends half her time writing stories at The Voice-Tribune office and half her time out on the town conducting interviews, while occasionally dressing in wild outfits to fully immerse herself in the experience (aka Princess Leia at Comic Con). Ashley is a huge UofL fan and loves the Yankees and the Boston Celtics (she is fully aware of the irony). She hopes to one day outshine Erin Andrews on ESPN and enjoys running, Bardstown Road/Fourth Street, Breaking Bad and reality TV (sheâ€™s not ashamed to admit that).